Non-pressurized fluid product dispenser

Abstract

A non-pressurized dispenser for fluid products includes a cylindrical plastic housing having a compressible body portion and a removable cap portion having a hollow core needle and dispensing nozzle. A disposable product container having flexible side walls is contained within the body portion. When the cap portion is seated on the body portion, the hollow core needle penetrates the container to establish fluid communication between the container and the nozzle. When the housing is compressed air trapped between the container and the housing causes the container to be compressed and the fluid product contained therein to be forced from the container through the core of the needle and out through the nozzle. A check valve in the housing allows air to enter the housing to replace the volume vacated by the dispensed fluid product so that the container can be completely emptied without the housing having to be completely compressed.

I claim: 
     
       1. A non-pressurized dispenser comprising, in combination: a pressure-tight housing including a body portion having compressible side walls and an opening at one end thereof, and a removable cap portion adapted for threaded engagement to said body portion over said opening, said cap portion having a product dispensing nozzle therein;   check-valve means in said housing for allowing air to enter said housing in the absence of a positive pressure differential therein;   a compressible product container disposed within said housing, said container having a relatively flexible bag portion within said body portion and a relatively inflexible flange portion at one end of said bag portion adapted to fit over said opening under said cap portion, said flange portion being maintained in a seated position against the rim of said opening by said cap portion and including a relatively thin membrane portion serving as a sidewall for said bag portion; and   means including a hollow needle in said cap portion having a passageway communicating with said nozzle for penetrating said membrane portion when said cap portion is installed on said body portion whereby the product in said container is dispensed when said housing is compressed.   
     
     
       2. A non-pressurized dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein said flange portion comprises a relatively thick member, and said membrane portion comprises an aperture disposed in said member for accommodating said needle, said aperture being sealed by means including a thin membrane overlying said aperture. 
     
     
       3. A non-pressurized dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein a first air chamber is formed between said bag portion and said body portion, and wherein a second air chamber is formed between said flange portion and said cap portion, and wherein said flange portion includes at least one aperture for establishing pressure communication between said first and second air chambers. 
     
     
       4. For use in conjunction with a product dispenser of the type having a pressure-tight housing including a body portion having compressible side walls and an opening at one end thereof, and a removable cap portion adapted for threaded engagement with said body portion over said opening, said cap portion having a product dispensing nozzle therein,   check-valve means in said housing for allowing air to enter said housing in the absence of a positive pressure differential therein,   and means including a hollow needle in said cap portion having a passageway communicating with said dispensing nozzle, said needle projecting into said body portion when said cap portion is installed thereon;   a product container comprising, in combination:   a flexible bag portion adapted to fit within said body portion; and   a relatively inflexible flange portion at one end of said bag portion adapted to fit over said opening in said body portion under said cap portion so as to be retained in a seated position against the rim of said opening, said flange portion including a relatively thin membrane portion serving as a sidewall for said bag portion for sealably passing said needle to establish fluid communication with said bag portion when said cap portion is installed on said body portion.   
     
     
       5. A product container as defined in claim 4 wherein said flange portion comprises a relatively thick member, and said membrane portion comprises an aperture disposed in said member for accommodating said needle, said aperture being sealed by means including a thin membrane overlying said aperture. 
     
     
       6. A product container as defined in claim 5 wherein a first air chamber is formed between said bag portion and said body portion, and wherein a second air chamber is formed between said flange portion and said cap portion, and wherein said flange portion includes at least one aperture for establishing pressure communication between said first and second air chambers.